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Munich 2025Show Reports
Turntables, Turntables, and More Turntables at Munich 2025, Plus Some Tonearms & Cartridges Too
Mike Mettler,  |  Jun 05, 2025  |  0 comments

The assignment for High End Munich 2025 was simple, and direct: “Show me turntables. Lots and lots of turntables.” And who better to carry out such a focused task than our go-to, table-loving main product reviewer for AP, the always estimable Ken Micallef. Click the link below to see Ken’s 11½-minute Munich 2025 video diary, which features a wide swath of turntables — plus a few tonearms and cartridges to boot — from the likes of TechDAS, Clearaudio, Klaudio, Kronos, Kuzma, Dual, Muarah, and many, many more. . .

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWSNew Wax Wednesday
Talking Heads Build a Better Box Set With the More Songs About Buildings and Food 4LP Super Deluxe Edition That’s Slated for Consumption on July 25
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 04, 2025  |  1 comments

Take me to the box set, and drop me in the vinyl. And what we mean by that is to announce Talking Heads’ second studio album, July 1978’s More Songs About Buildings and Food, will be getting the Super Deluxe Edition 4LP treatment from Sire/Rhino on July 25, 2025. Read on to see what rarities and live material are also included in this must-have collection (and how to get those four bonus 45s too). . .

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Analog Gear News
Spartan 15 Mk 2 Phono Preamp by Michael Fidler and Classic Audio
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 03, 2025  |  1 comments

Michael Fidler is a bonafide classic audio maestro, and he knows how to build phono preamps about as good as anybody can. Read on to see all the features and specs for the latest offering from Michael Fidler and Classic Audio — namely, the Spartan 15 Mk 2 phono preamp, which is said to have evolved the standards set with company’s prior Spartan 15 and Spartan 10 double-stage preamps. . .

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Munich 2025Show Reports
Nagaoka Cartridges and Accessories, Korf Tonearms
Julie Mullins  |  Jun 02, 2025  |  0 comments

Our High End Munich 2025 coverage continues, so let’s get right to it! Here in Part 3, Julie Mullins gives us the scoop on the latest Nagaoka cartridges and accessories, as well as the newest tonearm offerings from Korf. . .

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Album Reviews
Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ 1974 Live Album Saturnight (Cat Stevens Live in Tokyo) Finally Sees Worldwide, and Quite Welcome, 1LP 50th Anniversary Release
Mark Smotroff  |  May 30, 2025  |  3 comments

The 50th anniversary edition of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ November 1974 live album Saturnight (Cat Stevens Live in Tokyo) is a surprisingly satisfying single-LP snapshot of the artist at an arguable career peak — and it’s now enjoying its first global vinyl release earlier this month on May 2, 2025, via the artist’s own Cat-O-Log imprint through A&M/UMe. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why Saturnight belongs in your collection ASAP. . .

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Munich 2025Show Reports
AMG Ventus Phono Preamp, Viella Series Turntables & 12JT Tonearm
Julie Mullins  |  May 29, 2025  |  1 comments

Here in Part 2 of our High End Munich 2025 show report series, Julie Mullins takes a firsthand look at AMG’s Ventus phono preamp prototype, in addition to checking out a pair of AMG Viella series turntables and the company’s 12JT tonearm. . .

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWSNew Wax Wednesday
The B-52’s Span the Rainbow With a Myriad of Color Vinyl Choices for All the Good Stuff That’s in Their 9LP Warner Reprise Years Box Set Coming Out June 20
Mike Mettler  |  May 28, 2025  |  10 comments

We duly announce that The B-52’s The Warner Reprise Years 9LP box set is slated for release from Warner Records/Reprise/Rhino on June 20, 2025. All 9LPs in this massive collection, which spans the balance of the pioneering alt-punk band’s kaleidoscopic recording career from 1979 to 1992, have been remastered and repressed on a literal rainbow variety of color vinyl options, so read on to see what those colors are, and how good each LP sounds. . .

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FeaturesNews
Late, Great Music Visionary Herb Belkin’s Amazing Collection, Including Many of His Own Original Rare & Low-Number MFSL Limited-Edition LPs and Box Sets, Is Set for Auction by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries on June 29
Mike Mettler,  |  May 27, 2025  |  4 comments

Herb Belkin was one of a kind. A lifetime record executive who was instrumental in taking a onetime field-recording audio company known as Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (a.k.a. MFSL) to the next, audiophile-grade level in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Belkin (1939-2001) also amassed quite the robust collection of vinyl, CDs, LDs, and other music-related memorabilia over the course of his rich life. A good amount of Belkin’s personal archive from the MFSL universe (and beyond!) is coming up for auction at 11 a.m. EDT on June 29, 2025, through Thomaston Place Auction Galleries on Day 3 of their Summer Splendor auction series. Read Mike Mettler and Mark Smotroff’s combo report to see what rare items from Belkin’s vinyl collection are going up for this auction — and also find out what gear he listened to all of it on back in the day. . .

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Munich 2025Show Reports
High End Munich 2025, Part 1: Dual, Coturn by Thorens & Anette Askvik
Julie Mullins  |  May 26, 2025  |  0 comments

If it’s May, then it must be time again for the annual High End Munich show at the M.O.C. — a.k.a., the Event Center Messe Munich — which was held from May 15-18, 2025. Here in Part 1 of our comprehensive Munich 2025 show report series, Julie Mullins gives us the scoop on the latest turntable offerings from Dual and Coturn by Thorens, plus she (and we!) give well-deserved kudos to show ambassador Anette Askvik. . .

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 27: Elemental Music’s Fine Motown Reissue Series Continues With More 140g 1LP Gems From Jackson 5, Four Tops, The Undisputed Truth, Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Marvin Gaye
Mark Smotroff  |  May 23, 2025  |  2 comments

Today, we continue our deep dive into reviewing seven more compelling, affordably priced, and generally well-made reissues of classic 1960s and early ’70s Motown LPs released by Elemental Music and UMe. Read on to see Mark Smotroff’s Short Cuts takes on the latest round of 140g 1LP reissues from Jackson 5, Four Tops, The Undisputed Truth, Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Marvin Gaye. . .

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